Whiffletree



UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SALOT, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,843, dated May 18, 1880.

A Application ined Februar y 26, isso.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SALOT, of the city of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Whiffletrees; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description of the same, reference being ,had to the accompanying drawings, and to `know how to make and usethis whifetree, the

same is described, having reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of the whifiletree; and Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section of one of the vends, showing particu larly the internal mechanism.

Like letters denote corresponding parts in each of the figures.

The whifdetree is of the ordinary1 shape and size, and is denoted by the letter A, having at each end a ferrule, B, made of metal, the outer end of which is formed into a loop or ellipse. This metal ferrule is perforated, as shown at b b', to allow the passage in and out of a spindle or pin, O, so constructed and arranged that the pin or spindle may extend some little distance into the interior of the p wooden part of the whiflletree within a suitable chamber or recess, c, made therein, and this spindle or pin is thrown out by means of a spiral spring, D, coiled around it.

In order to retract this pin or spindle, a latch, E, is connected with it by means of a screw or pin, c. This latch works back and forth in a groove or dovetailed ways in the top of the metallic ferrule, and has at one end of it a thumb-piece, f, by means of which it can be moved back and the pin or spindle retracted when it is desired to hook the trace over the end of the spindle or rod.

There is pivoted Vover the center of the whiftletree a double lever, F, having wings g g', to` which are pivoted connecting-rods H H,

which, in turn, are connected with one end of the latch E. This double lever F has a con- 5 5 venient handle, h.

The mode of operation of this whiftletree is as follows: To attach the trace to the whifiietree, the thumb-piece of the latch is drawn back, the end of the trace inserted in the 6o loop or ellipse of the ferrule, the thumb-piece then released, and the spindle or rod is forced by the action of its spring through the end of the trace and holds it fast.

When it is -desired to suddenly release or unt'asten the traces from the whiftletree, in a case of running away, or for any other reason, Y by a slight pull of a cord or strap attached to the handle of the double lever F both the pins or spindles O are retracted and the ends 7o of the traces are released from the whifetree.

In addition to the advantages of this coustruction, which are evident upon inspection, it may be mentioned that the spindle or pin passing entirely through the outer end of the ferrule` is very strong and not liable to be dis placed, and making it quite impossible for the traces to unfasten themselves by any jolting or violent motion of the whiffletree.

Having thus described my invention, what 8o I claim as new therein is 1. As an improvement in whiflletree-ferrules, the ferrule B, made of metal cast in one piece7 Vhaving its outer end formed into a loop with spindle-passages b b', and its inner end formed 8 5 intorgrooves or dovetailed ways ou its upper and outer surface in the direction of its length, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination, spindle O, moving in pas-l sages b b and recess c, spring D, screw e, and 9o latch E, moving in the dovetailed ways B, and actuated by its thumb-piece f, all constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown. n Y

3. In combination with t-he whiftletree, fer- 9 5 rules B B, spindlesO C, with springs D D, and latches E E', screws e e, rods H H, and double lever F, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described and set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this Ioo 29th day of January, 1880.

GEORGE SALOT.

Witnesses Y J. M. MUNN, MONROE M. GABY. 

